what is book price?
Author
Discussion

petemurphy

Original Poster:

10,942 posts

213 months

Wednesday 18th December 2013
quotequote all
stupid question but is book price the price a dealer paid for a car or what its worth according to parkers etc?

ie if one happened to see the dealers screen when they went to get the keys and book price was 8900 and selling price was 13600 is this rather a large gap?!

Andy665

4,179 posts

258 months

Wednesday 18th December 2013
quotequote all
Book price is what is shown by one of two main trade price guides - Glass's and CAP (current auction prices)

Both books are used extensively but are a guide only, not uncommon to see differences of up to 20% between values in the guides

Some vehicles will be worth more than book, some will be worth less and some will be worth around book
Guides will often give three valuations - above average condition, average and below average, there will also be adjustments for mileage and optional extras

Parkers etc are a complete joke - I once sat next to someone from Parkers at an industry function - they were quite open in saying - "We're in the business of selling magazines not valuing cars - we know that people will buy thee valuation guide that values their car the highest"

Best indicator of whether the car you are looking at represents value for money is to compare it to other cars of similar age, mileage and spec

petemurphy

Original Poster:

10,942 posts

213 months

Wednesday 18th December 2013
quotequote all
Andy665 said:
Book price is what is shown by one of two main trade price guides - Glass's and CAP (current auction prices)

Both books are used extensively but are a guide only, not uncommon to see differences of up to 20% between values in the guides

Some vehicles will be worth more than book, some will be worth less and some will be worth around book
Guides will often give three valuations - above average condition, average and below average, there will also be adjustments for mileage and optional extras

Parkers etc are a complete joke - I once sat next to someone from Parkers at an industry function - they were quite open in saying - "We're in the business of selling magazines not valuing cars - we know that people will buy thee valuation guide that values their car the highest"

Best indicator of whether the car you are looking at represents value for money is to compare it to other cars of similar age, mileage and spec
thks so i shouldnt feel like im being too conned then! is in v good condition

Snowboy

8,028 posts

181 months

Wednesday 18th December 2013
quotequote all
The book has many prices for each car.
Trade Price.
Retail Price.

And then a breakdown of each of those based on condition into Good, medium, bad.

The book price a dealer shows you will depend on whether they are buying or selling.

bazza white

3,761 posts

158 months

Wednesday 18th December 2013
quotequote all
The last dealer I went into didnt bother getting his little book out of his top draw .just went straight to auto trader and eBay.

petemurphy

Original Poster:

10,942 posts

213 months

Wednesday 18th December 2013
quotequote all
this was just on his screen rather than telling me it - he didnt know i was seeing it